Why Would You Change Motorcycle Rims

Why Would You Change Your Motorcycles Rims? Motorcycle Rims are probably the last thing most guys will mess with on their bike. There are reasons to change rims for performance. Mainly this is to drop weight off the bike, with motorcycle rims now being made from magnesium alloy and even carbon fiber making them super light.

Dropping Un Sprung Weight:
When it comes to performance on a bike the weight of the bike versus the horsepower of the engine makes a difference in how fast a bike can go. You will find that many riders that are serious about their motorcycles performance will not only enhance the performance of the engine but also drop unwanted weight from the bike. Usually this is done by going with an aftermarket exhaust system which usually drops about 15 to 20+ pounds from the bike. Those riders that are serious about shedding more pounds will also get lighter rims which further remove weight from the bike. You can remove about 40-60% off the regular weight of stock rims by going with carbon fiber rims where magnesium ones might drop about 25%.

Generally new motorcycle rims do not enhance performance or handling unless you start to change the dimensions of the rims and therefore also the tire size that can fit a bike. If this is something you are considering then you will need to be cautious. Motorcycles are dialed in perfectly by the manufacturer so things like lowering the bike or changing the size of the tires, or sprockets can drastically alter the handling and performance of your motorcycle in an unfavorable way. So unless you are very familiar with every aspect of your bike changing some of these configurations may not have the desired effect of enhanced performance but rather the opposite.

The cool factor:
Another reason to change the rims on your motorcycle is for looks. You can find rims with all sorts of designs as well as if you want to spend the money you can have custom wheels made with your own design. You don't see this as much on sport bikes as you do on choppers but it can be done just as easily. It just seems sport bike riders make changes to their bike to go faster and therefore they use lighter materials where on a chopper no one cares if the rim made from aluminum is heavy as long as it looks cool and custom it’s all good.
When you are ready to change motorcycle rims on your ride give us a call and we can set you up with a new set at an affordable price.